Police searching for a man suspected of attempted assult and rape in downtown Gainesville

Wednesday

Sep 26, 2012 at 9:36 AMSep 26, 2012 at 9:01 PM

Police are searching for a man suspected of beating and attempting to rape a woman in downtown Gainesville Tuesday evening.

By Cindy SwirkoStaff writer

Police are searching for a man suspected of beating and attempting to rape a woman Tuesday night in downtown Gainesville.

The suspect has been identified as Stephon Barnes, 46, who had given the Salvation Army as his address earlier this year and is a previous sexual offender, according to a news release from Officer Ben Tobias with the Gainesville Police Department.

About 6 p.m., the woman parked her car near Arlington Square apartments on Southwest Second Place. As she was getting out, Barnes allegedly pulled her out of the car by her legs, punched her in the face, and told her he was going to rape her, Tobias reported. He allegedly had a claw hammer as a weapon.

The woman had multiple bruises and cuts to her upper body. She pleaded for her life, and Barnes stopped and ran off, Tobias said.

Officer Shawn Barnes, who is not related to the suspect, remembered Barnes as a man fitting the description given by the woman. The officer showed the woman a photo lineup that included Barnes, and she picked him out of it as her attacker, Tobias said.

Barnes is wanted on charges of attempted sexual battery, burglary and battery. He is black, 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. He is listed as a sex offender by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.